Growing Dinosaur in an Egg

Always
wanted a pet Dinosaur? Watch in awe as your jumbo dino egg hatches into your
favourite prehistoric creature when submerged in water. Then watch, as your cute
6-8cm dino hatchling grows to a whopping 5 to 10 times its
original size! It works like Magic, but the secret to these growing wonders is
that they are made out of a special superabsorbent polymer that soaks up water
like a sponge. The polymer, or hydrpgel, is similar to the non-toxic chemical
used in baby nappies. So dont overlook the educational value of these popular
toys.

Completely submerge the speckled
dino egg in a container of water. Within 12-24 hours the egg shell will crack
and your baby pet will begin to hatch. Then watch your 5-8 cm baby dino grow
into a 40cm monster over the next couple of days. To take full advantage of the
science angle, take some measurements of your new born hatchling. One
of the easiest ways to take measurements is to place the baby dino on a piece of
graph paper and trace around it. Simply count the squares to determine the area
and size of the object.It's
fun to watch your dino grow for the first 24 hours... but don't be disappointed
if it's not huge. It takes about 5 days for it to get really big. After 24
hours, remove the dino from the water and carefully dry it off with paper towel.
Take measurements and record your data on your graph paper. Back to the water
they go for another 24 hours. Continue gathering data until the creatures stop
growing after about 7 days.

Teach

Superabsorbent
polymers or hydrogels and their use in everyday life: baby nappies and
agriculture/gardening to retain water in soil.

Hydrophilic
and hydrophobic substances.

Measurement
and graphing.

FAQ

Why
did it fall apart?If
your water is too hot, it will cause the creatures to disintegrate. Warm water
works best, but make sure that it isn't too hot.

How
long will it last?As
long as the creatures are handled carefully, they will last for a long time. And
because it is reusable, you can dry it out and regrow it several times.

How
long does it take to grow to its full size?About
a week and a half to two weeks.

Is
it reusable?Yes!
Take the dino out of the water and, depending on humidity, it should take about
3 weeks to a month to shrink to its original size. As an extra activity have
your students record how much it shrinks daily.

Growing
Tips

·Use
distilled water if it is available.

·Make
sure the water is at room temperature or slightly warmer. Water that is too hot
will cause the body parts to disintegrate.

·Change
the water every day for the first few days.

·Make
sure your hands are clean when you touch the growing creatures. Dirty hands can
cause bacteria to grow in the water.

. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small Parts. Not
for children under 3 years.

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Mad About Science

Founded and run by skilled science teachers, we really care about connecting more children with the fascinating world of science. We carry a huge range of science-inspired toys and kits that encourage hands-on experimenting and fun science learning.